South Carolina Administrative Code

121-8.21. Transportation. A. No pipeline shall be used to transport oil or gas across a property line within the state without a permit from the Commission. Application for the permit shall be accompanied by a may showing: (1) The proposed location of the pipeline or gathering sy…

121-8.22. Underground Injection for Enhanced Recovery, Saltwater and Oil-Field Wastes, and Hydrocarbon Storage. A. The Commission, upon notice and hearing, may authorize the following activities: (1) Operations to increase ultimate recovery, such as cycling of gas, maintenance of…

121-8.23. Water Wells. Any water well used in connection with the drilling of an oil or gas well shall be constructed in such a manner that will ensure proper protection from contamination of the fresh water aquifers. Said well shall be grouted to a depth of at least 50 feet or u…

121-8.26. Environmental Protection and Safety. A. All water shall be confined to its respective strata and shall be adequately protected in any exploration or production operations. B. All drillers, owners, operators, and individuals having control of the operation of any oil or …

121-8.27. Hearings. A. All hearings conducted by the Commission or persons designated by the Commission to hold hearings on behalf of the Commission, whether to obtain public views or to hear contested cases shall be preceded by thirty (30) days notice as applicable, either by wr…

121-8.28. Enforcement. In addition to those penalties provided in Sections 48-43-810 through 48-43-850, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, as amended, the Commission or its authorized representative may order the immediate suspension of all or any part of the exploration, dril…

121-8.3. General. A. Any person operating wholly or partially within this State for the purpose of oil and gas exploration, drilling or operating any oil or gas well, or transporting, storing, or refining oil or gas produced within the state shall file an Affidavit of Ownership a…

121-8.4. Exploration Permits. A. No person shall commence exploration for oil or gas in the State without first obtaining an exploration permit from the Commission. In order to obtain an exploration permit, an applicant shall submit the following information: (1) A letter or stat…

121-8.5. Well Drilling Permits. A. No person shall drill any well, as defined in Section 121-8.2 without first obtaining a well drilling permit from the Commission. A separate application and permit shall be required for each well drilled. B. In order to obtain a well drilling pe…

121-8.6. Performance Bond. A. Before any person shall be granted a well drilling permit, such person shall file with the Commission a reasonable performance bond in an amount as hereinafter set forth, as provided in Section 121-8.5(b). Such bond shall be payable to the State of S…

121-8.7. Permit Actions. A. The Commission shall, as expeditiously as possible and in all instances within (30) days of the receipt of a properly completed application and all other required information for a well drilling permit either issue or deny the well permit. If the compl…

121-8.8. Change of Operator. A. Any person or persons requesting to become the new operator of any permitted well or wells shall submit to the Commission the following: (1) A properly completed application, on forms provided by the Commission; (2) An Affidavit of Ownership and Or…

121-8.9. Spacing of Wells. A. Wells drilled in search of oil or gas in areas not covered by field rules shall not be located nearer than three hundred thirty (330) feet from every lease boundary. Wells drilled in search of oil shall not be located nearer than nine hundred (900) f…

123-10. Restriction of Watercraft in Certain Areas. The use of watercraft shall be restricted in certain areas of the waters of the State of S.C. when the Director determines that such restriction is necessary in the interest of public safety. The regulated areas shall be identif…

123-108. Sale of Trout at Fairs. 1. The Department shall have authority to issue a special permit to any state, county or local fair, circus or temporary or travelling amusement center or show to allow the sale of hatchery raised trout to patrons thereof whereby such fish are dis…

123-11. Garden City Canal (Murrel’s Inlet Area)—Restriction of Watercraft. The use of watercraft will be restricted in the waters in the Garden City Canal, in the Murrels Inlet Area, of Georgetown County and Horry County, S.C. The Garden City Canal begins at a point on Main Creek…

123-124. Reciprocal Agreement Between the State of Georgia and the State of South Carolina. 1. The provisions of this agreement shall be applicable to the waters which lie adjacent to or within both the State of South Carolina and the State of Georgia, to wit: All channels of the…

123-127. Taking Eels and Catfish in Certain Waters. 1. This rule and regulation regulates the taking of eels in the following waters of this State: In Lake Marion, Lake Moultrie, the Diversion Canal connecting the lakes and the Tail Canal down to the Seabord Coastal Railroad Brid…

123-131. Creel Limits and Bait/Lure Restrictions in Portions of Chattooga River, Cheohee Creek (Oconee County) and Middle Saluda River (Greenville County). (Statutory Authority: 1976 Code § 50-13-250) 1. It shall be lawful to use or possess only artificial lures with single hooks…

123-14. Lake Marion (Cantey Bay)—Restriction of Watercraft. The use of watercraft will be restricted in the waters in a 318 acre area on the west side of Cantey Bay, Lake Marion, Clarendon County, S.C., from 1 November through 15 March of each year. The restricted or controlled a…

123-150. Non-Game and Endangered Species. 1. The following list of species or subspecies of non-game wildlife are faced with extinction in the foreseeable future and are added to the official State List of Endangered Wildlife Species of South Carolina. I. Birds 1. Bachman’s Warbl…

123-150.1. Cheloniidae and Dermochelyidae (Sea Turtles). 1. The remaining species of the families Cheloniidae and Dermochelyidae (sea turtles) not listed in South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department Regulation 123-150 are considered threatened and in need of managem…

123-150.2. Birds, Fish, Reptiles, Amphibians and Mammals. The following list of species or subspecies of non-game wildlife are considered to be threatened and are added to the official state list of Non-game Species in Need of Management. I. Birds 1. American Peregrine Falcon (Fa…

123-150.3. Scientific Collecting Permit Required. That a scientific collecting permit under the terms of § 50-11-2190, 1976 Code of Laws, shall be required for the collecting of all nongame species or subspecies of the Classes Pices (Fish), Amphibia (Amphibians), Reptilia (Reptil…

123-151. Regulations for Species or Subspecies of Non-game Wildlife. A. Alligator Harvest 1. The size and number of all alligators to be taken will be specified by the Department on permits provided with harvest tags. A permit holder may only take and/or possess alligators identi…

123-151.1. Regulations for Spotted Turtle ( Clemmys guttata ). A. Spotted Turtle Protection 1. A person shall not take, possess, transport, import, export, process, sell, purchase, offer for sale, trade, gift, barter, ship, or receive for shipment any spotted turtle ( Clemmys gut…

123-151.2. Regulations for Southern Hognose Snake. 1. It is unlawful for any person to take, possess, transport, import, export, process, sell, offer for sale, ship, or receive for shipment any southern hognose snake without a permit from the department. Permits will be issued on…

123-151.3. Exchange and Transfer for Certain Native Reptiles and Amphibians. A. No native reptile or amphibian, including parts, products, eggs, and derivatives may be sold, purchased, traded, exchanged, bartered, exported or shipped, transferred and/or re-homed, except: 1. Trans…

123-151.4. Possession Limits for Certain Native Reptiles and Amphibians. A. A person shall not possess any species listed as endangered or threatened and in need of management pursuant to S.C. Code Sections 50-15-10, et seq. except by permit issued by the Department. B. A person …

123-152. Regulations for Nonnative Wildlife. A. The Department has determined that the species designated as Restricted Nonnative Wildlife have the potential to become established in this State in sufficient numbers so as to become a nuisance and pose a demonstrable deleterious a…

123-16. Lake Hartwell. All aids to navigation and regulatory markers erected by the Corps of Engineers on Lake Hartwell pursuant to Federal Law are hereby declared to be S.C.W.M.R.D. aids to navigation and regulatory markers pursuant to § 50-21-710, 1976 S.C. Code of Laws, and ar…

123-160. Vultures, Kites, Hawks, Eagles, Ospreys, Falcons, and Owls. 1. The following list of species or subspecies of nongame wildlife are in need of management, to wit: All species of the Order Falconiformes (vultures, kites, hawks, eagles, ospreys, falcons) and all species of …

123-170. South Carolina State Falconry Regulations. A. Definitions (1) ‘‘Raptor’’—means a live migratory bird of the Order Falconiformes or the Order Strigiformes, other than a bald eagle ( Haliaeetus leucocephalus ). (2) ‘‘Take’’—means to trap or capture, or attempt to trap or c…

123-18. Lake Marion (Pine Island Unit) (Cantey Bay). Watercraft is restricted in certain portions of Lake Marion in Clarendon County from November 1 to February 28 of each year, except property owners and leasees adjacent to Cantey Bay with special permission from the U.S. Fish a…

123-19.32. State Waterways Uniform Marking System Pursuant to Section 50-21-710 which requires that a uniform marking system of state waterways be compatible with the system prescribed by the United States Coast Guard for the marking of state waters; and the United States Coast G…

123-200. Regulations Applicable to Wildlife Management Areas, Heritage Preserves and other lands owned by the Department of Natural Resources. Applicability and Scope. A. The purpose of this regulation is to govern the conduct and activities of visitors to Wildlife Management Are…

123-201. Definitions. For purposes of this regulation: ‘‘All terrain vehicle’’ means a motorized vehicle, regardless of the number of wheels, designed or constructed primarily for use off of paved or improved roads. ‘‘Boats’’ mean any watercraft, including but not limited to moto…

123-202. Hazard of Outdoor Activities and Liability. Department land is made available to the general public for reasonable uses not prohibited by statute or regulation. These lands are held and maintained in a natural condition, except for uses requiring modification. Outdoor ac…

123-203. General Regulation. This section shall apply to all Wildlife Management Areas, Heritage Preserves and other lands owned by the Department. A. Hunting, fishing, and taking game animals, birds, fish, or other wildlife is allowed on Wildlife Management Areas that have been …

123-204. Additional Regulations Applicable to Specific Properties. See SCSR 49-10 Doc. No. 5409, effective October 7, 2025, for 90 days, which promulgated an emergency amendment to SC ADC 123-204, extending the seasonal closure of the Crab Bank Heritage Preserve’s intertidal zone…

123-205. Special Events, Permit Requirements and Procedures, and Exceptions. A. A special event permit is required for all events occurring on Department land if one of the following conditions exists: (1) the exclusive use of a facility or a specified land or water area is requi…

123-206. Permits to Collect Plants, Animals, or Minerals or to Undertake Archeological Activities. A. The Department may issue permits to collect plants, animals, or minerals or to undertake research, survey, or archeological activities on Department land. Permits may be issued o…

123-207. Exception for Non-Public Use Properties. This regulation shall not be applicable to Department owned land used for such purposes as fish hatcheries, maintenance facilities, storage facilities, offices, residences, or similar facilities which are not open generally for pu…

123-208. Law Enforcement, Fire Fighting, and Emergency Activities. This regulation shall not be construed or applied to prevent any authorized law enforcement, fire fighting, emergency, or rescue personnel from carrying out their official responsibilities. HISTORY: Added by State…

123-209. Term and Conditions for the Public’s Use of State Lakes and Ponds Owned by the Department of Natural Resources. A. Pursuant to the conditions provided in 1976 Code Section 50-11-2200 prohibiting certain acts and conduct on state lakes owned or leased by the department, r…

123-210. Term and Conditions for the Public’s Use of State Lakes and Ponds Leased by the Department of Natural Resources. A. Pursuant to the conditions provided in 1976 Code Section 50-11-2200 prohibiting certain acts and conduct on state lakes owned or leased by the department, …

123-211. Terms and Conditions for the Public’s Use of Department Shooting Ranges. A. The Department may construct shooting ranges on property it owns or leases for the purpose of providing public shooting opportunity. The following rules apply to Department firearm and archery ra…